Snails in a cannister filter

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
EChambers89

EChambers89

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 17, 2015
28
4
8
So a friend of mine was cleaning out his fx6 yesterday to add purigen and found a bunch of snails and what appears to be their eggs inside of the filter. He said he had cleaned in a week ago and they were not there and hes never had snails in the tank. The filter was purchased new a couple months ago. Any ideas as to how this could happen? Here is a couple of pictures for reference.

received_994916180579930.jpeg

received_994916187246596.jpeg
 
Add salt to the water and that should clear them up over time.
 
Snails in a tank are a good thing, and in a filter, too. They are an essential step in the food chain.
In my canister filters, I have found snails, fish fry, adult fish, crabs, tons of shrimp, you name it. Whatever lives in your tank, you're likely to find in your canister.
HarleyK
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fishy-Botany
And BTW, why is your buddy opening the canister only a week after cleaning? It should last longer than that, and every opening disturbs the biofiltration.
 
He opened it to add on some purigen to help with water clarity. And he does have live plants but they have been in the tank longer then the filter. And he cleans the filter about once every 2 to 3 months, and this is the second cleaning for it. No snails where in it during either cleaning.
 
He has snails in his tank, may not have noticed them, but they're there, not serious. On the second photo it looks like he's got sand in his canister, if that's the case, it will cause wear on the impeller and failure of the canister, he may want to lift the intake a little higher.
 
joe jaskot said:
Did your friend add any live plants to his tank? If so, the snails may have come in with them.
Click to expand...

I'm too think there were hitch hikers. Very few that wasn't noticed in the tank. That's how mine started. I dont mind they do reproduce a lot as I feed more, but decrease to an acceptable amount when I cut down.

There's always the lettuce or cucumber tactic but too much trouble in my scenario.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom